Restaurant guests restrain man accused of threatening staff with a firearm: police

The Trailhead Restaurant & Bar in Black Mountain, North Carolina. (WLOS Staff via CNN Newsource)

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) -- Police are thanking restaurant guests after they restrained a man who was reportedly threatening employees with a firearm in a Black Mountain restaurant on Thursday, July 2.

According to a July 3 news release from the Black Mountain Police Department, witnesses said guests at Trailhead Restaurant held down the man until law enforcement arrived.

Police said the man, identified as 76-year-old Charles Donald Wilson, had left the restaurant after threatening an employee earlier in the day and returned later, brandishing a firearm.

According to the release, police arrived at 5:37 p.m. on July 2 at the Trailhead Restaurant located at 207 West State Street.

Police arrested Wilson on the following charges:

Going armed to the terror of the public Brandishing a firearm Intoxicated and disruptive behaviour

According to police, Wilson was reportedly asked to leave the establishment after an interaction involving inappropriate and disparaging comments made toward an employee. It was further alleged that Wilson made statements indicating he would return with a firearm and harm individuals inside the restaurant.

“While leaving, he made some comments threatening them that he would be back, possibly with a firearm,” said Chris Kuhn, deputy chief of Black Mountain Police Department.

Upon returning to the business, Wilson allegedly entered the establishment while armed and made actions and statements that caused immediate concern for the safety of those present. During the incident, several citizens acted quickly to intervene and restrain Wilson until law enforcement officers arrived and secured the scene.

Police said Wilson was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Buncombe County Detention Facility. Wilson was issued a US$20,000 secured bond. His next court hearing is set for July 6.

Kuhn says that through talking with staff from Trailhead, they were distressed by the incident.

“I also know that the staff was pretty traumatized from talking to them this morning[...] especially the young staff over there were very traumatized by this event,” Kuhn said.

News 13 reached out to the business requesting an interview, but they declined. The friend of another local business owner said he was at the scene when Wilson returned with the gun.

“He was walking out, closing the door, and heard someone walk in. He said that the gentleman bumped him and he thought, ‘That’s weird,’” said Scott Counce, co-owner of Merry Wine Bar. “He turned around and saw the guy with the gun above his head.”

“It took a split second, but someone else already jumped up, grabbed the guy, had engaged another person who had come behind, had his arm around the gunman’s neck,” said Counce.

Despite the incident, Counce says he still feels safe, saying Black Mountain is not the typical place where incidents like these occur.

“It’s never been here. This is not the place for that, and I’m sad that that’s happening here,” Counce said.

Black Mountain Police issued this statement:

“The actions displayed by members of our community exemplified extraordinary courage and selflessness under difficult circumstances. While incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Black Mountain, they are inherently dangerous and unpredictable.”

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

By Dean Hensley and Deanna Sipe